Nonlinear Imaging and Sensing Based on Optically Resonant Nanostructures and Metasurfaces

Subwavelength dielectric structures can achieve effective manipulation over light waves in both the near and far fields through the excitation of electric and magnetic resonance effects, offering opportunities for a range of applications, including nonlinear imaging, optical sensing, and communication. The rapid development of nonlinear nanophotonics based on subwavelength dielectric structures has driven advancements in areas like on-chip light sources and optoelectronic devices.

In this webinar hosted by the Thin Films Technical Group, Lei Xu will summarize some of the recent work from the Advanced Optics and Photonics group at Nottingham Trent University in the field of nanophotonics. By designing subwavelength dielectric structures using multipolar resonance interference effects, they aim to enable applications in nanophotonics, including tunable metasurfaces, nonlinear enhancement, and optical field control. The group further explored four-wave mixing enhancement processes based on resonant nanostructures and metasurfaces, achieving efficient infrared-to-visible light conversion, which suggests a promising platform for advancing infrared imaging technology through subwavelength nanostructures. Multipolar nanophotonics presents a versatile toolset for advancing nanotechnology, offering new potential for high-resolution imaging, sensing, and photonic communication.

Subject Matter Level: Intermediate - Assumes basic knowledge of the topic

What You Will Learn:
• Nanostructures and metasurfaces
• Nonlinear nanophotonics
• Multipolar interferences
• Imaging and sensing based on metasurfaces

Who Should Attend:
• Researchers who are interested in the nanophotonics field, the application of thin films, and thin film structuring.

About this Presenter: Lei Xu from Nottingham Trent University 

Lei Xu is an Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering at the Department of Engineering in the School of Science & Technology, Nottingham Trent University. He obtained his PhD in optics from Nankai University in 2014, followed by postdocs at Nankai University, Australian National University, and University of New South Wales. In 2020, Dr Xu joined Nottingham Trent University, where he co-developed the Advanced Optics and Photonics Laboratory and Group. His research focuses on exploring and engineering light-matter interactions at subwavelength scales for applications in nonlinear nanostructures and metasurfaces, infrared imaging technology, and reconfigurable meta-devices. He has published over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles in the optics and photonics field. He runs active collaborations with Industry and Academia, through which he has filed 2 patents. He served as the vice-chair (2021-22) and chair (2023 - 2024) of the IEEE Nanotechnology Council across the UK & Ireland section.